Press Release – Moxie
Moxie Communications, Mayor Celia Wade Brown, Bicycle Junction and friends are staging a night ride round the waterfront to draw attention to the plight of people in off-grid places around the world, particularly in our own Pacific region.

Come hail or high water — both not unlikely given what this week has thrown at us — on Thursday night from 5 to 6 we’ll be going ahead with the Little Sun Nite Ride, a short 5km tour around the waterfront starting on Queens Wharf. Everyone attending will receive a small gift for their participation and will go in the draw to win one of 5 Little Suns Lamps to help light up their winter nights. All ages and abilities welcome. The only criteria? BYO bike … and safety gear.

“I love riding my bicycle, day or night. Joining the Little Sun Night Ride around the Wellington Waterfront during Matariki Festival 2014 will be a lot of fun and help build awareness. The City Council’s working to make cycling safer in the capital and cyclists need to do their bit too by using good lights at night,” says Mayor Celia Wade-Brown.

Wellington creative agency Moxie Communications is the New Zealand partner for the Little Sun organisation a global movement making high-quality solar-powered LED lamps in the shape of a hand-sized sun. Little Sun was created by Olafur Eliasson and Frederik Ottesen and is the foundation of a social business, addressing the need for light in a sustainable way that benefits off-grid communities, creates local jobs, and generates local profits.

“Around 1.6 billion people worldwide and thousands of families in the Pacific region have no access to electric light. Light allows people to work, study, cook and socialise after nightfall,” says Moxie Managing Director Frances Manwaring.

Every Little Sun sold makes a difference. Buying a Little Sun at the regular price makes it possible for Little Suns to be sold in off-grid areas at much lower prices to help people who live in challenging conditions and extend their daily activities without using toxic fuel-based lighting such as kerosene.

“I strongly support renewable energy sources in the right places — wind, marine, hydro, geothermal and solar work well for New Zealand. This country, and our Pacific Island neighbours, will be affected by sea level rise and more extreme weather patterns predicted due to climate change. Projects like Little Sun are a great way to help people who are off the grid. They also draw attention to what we can do to mitigate and adopt to climate change,” says Mayor Celia Wade-Brown.

Moxie’s aims are simple — first and foremost, sell as many Little Suns as possible to support off-grid people all over the world. Second, stimulate specific and sustainable projects which make Little Suns available in off-grid communities in our own region.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Come to the Flashmob on Saturday and help us get New Zealanders behind shining a Little Sun for off grid families and communities in our Pacific region.